Image for Machiavelli’s <em>The Prince</em><br /> 

Machiavelli’s classic, The Prince, composed after the return of the Medici dynasty to power in early 16th-century Florence, poses questions about the relations between republics and principalities and between politics and morality, as well as the attributes necessary for political leadership and control. Machiavelli asserts that he does something unusual by urging the would-be prince to study history and the art of war, while addressing such issues as the selection of advisors, whether it is better to be loved or feared, and whether human virtue and excellence is capable of mastering fortune. Students will gain an appreciation for Machiavelli’s political thought as well as for his modes of expression and attention to historical detail. Taught in seminar format, this course will engage in close readings of Machiavelli’s classic text, examining its arguments, distinctions, examples, and literary style.